CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns run game is about to get a big boost for the stretch run.
Running back Nick Chubb and right guard Wyatt Teller are close to returning and both could be on the field Sunday against the Houston Texans.
“It feels great being back out there with the team,” Chubb said. “It has been about five weeks, and I been bored of sitting here and rehabbing every day so I was excited to get out there and actually get to run and hang out with the boys on the field.”
Although Chubb remains on injured reserve, the team designated him to return on Monday clearing him to practice this week.
“I think we will continue to use each of these days to move him along and then make a determination Friday on where he is,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said.
The running back echoed Stefanski when asked about being ready to take on the Texans.
“There is still a lot more to it than me just feeling good,” Chubb said. “I have to go through doctors, team athletic trainers and coaches.
It is more than just me saying I feel great.”
Chubb sprained his MCL Oct. 4 at Dallas. He is wearing a brace this week during practice and it’s unclear if he’ll have to continue wearing it on game day.
“When it first happened, I was not sure exactly what happened,” Chubb said. “I know what it did feel like the first time I hurt my knee [at Georgia] so I knew it was not that severe. I was able to walk off the field, and I did not really feel anything. I never really had pain at all in my knee – a little loose, but other than that, it has always felt good, and that gave me confidence from the beginning that I knew I would be able to come back and play to be 100 percent healthy, which I think has come along well.”
Should Chubb be activated at the end of the week, a conversation will be had about his workload against the Texans.
“We will talk to Nick, we will talk to the trainers and talk to the doctors and see once we get through the week, really get to Friday and then put that plan together,” Stefanski said. “Definitely, we will talk to Nick and see what he is comfortable with.”
Teller suffered a calf strain Oct. 11 against the Colts and has been rehabbing until he returned to practice Monday.
“It has been a process the past four weeks,” Teller said. “I wanted to make it back, but I do not want the same injury to be nagging all year. You definitely want to take advantage of the bye week, take advantage of the couple weeks that I had off and come back with a vengeance to get this game back on track.”
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is looking forward to Chubb teaming up with Kareem Hunt again.
“Having that two-headed monster of those guys being able to sub fresh legs in as needed, that is something that we are extremely blessed to have,” Mayfield said. “We are excited to have them both back out there, as well as the complements of our other guys. It is a huge part of our offense to be able to sub those guys in with fresh legs, and it wears on defenses. Later in the games when they are able to still be somewhat fresh, it is amazing how the grind and the ground game pounds on those guys.”
With Chubb and Teller on the field, the Browns led the NFL in rushing per game as well as yards per carry. Climbing that mountain top again is on the to do list.
“We have an identity, and we want to be guys who are tough, guys who run the ball and guys who are not afraid,” Teller said.
Reaching Out – Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. posted a thank you message on his Instagram story Wednesday, a day after undergoing successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.
“Thank u all for the messages, love, and support! Means the word, cause no lie I’m goin thru it. This shxt ain’t NOOO joke! Anyways preciate y’all much LUV”
An Honor to be Nominated – Browns fullback Andy Janovich was the Browns nominee for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award.
The finalists are scheduled to be announced in January and the recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors prior to the Super Bowl.
Quote of the Day – “It is Veterans Day. I just wanted to say thank you to all our veterans, everybody that served and continues to serve to protect our freedom and allow us to come out here and do this every day. It is a blessing, so I just want to say thank you,” Quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Injury Report – LIMTED: LG Joel Bitonio (elbow), RT Jack Conklin (knee), LB Jacob Phillips (knee), RG Wyatt Teller (calf), C JC Tretter (knee); FULL: TE Austin Hooper (abdomen), WR Jarvis Landry (hip), LB Sione Takitaki (hand)
